Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-10-11
THE coMEolE FRANCHISE.


palace, with sumpluous saoon
staircase adorned with statues, gal
l,r:es full of pictures, busts and statu-
ary, and the thousand souvenirs that
bear eloquent witness to long ana
glorious past. The exterior, from the
surrounding colonnade to the lantern
N the summit of the roof, gives one
he impression of immutable and
rrandiose stability. The narrow
ntranee doors of Undesirable coloi,
and innocent of all ornament, charm
you because they remind you of an
other age. And the grand vestibule,
Which looks like Forentne crypt,
that spacious, vaulted rotunda peopled
with statues, the walls covered
with antique mirror-glass in small
squares, the stairways that radi-
ate on all sides. guarded by
the ushers of the Comedie, correct and
courteous. with their heavy silver
chains of Office hanging round their
necks, how different from any thing one
has ever scent! :. Facing the controte
stands a marble statue by David
dangers, representing Talma study
ing role, in the costume and attitude
of Caesar thinking of the destinies
of his empire On either side OF Tai
ma are allegoric statues of Tragedy
and Comedy by Dnret, and to the left
Clesingcr's statue of Rachel, also rep
resenting Tragedy, draped in an
antique pcplum, and holding poniard
4 t., . L.. ,I.r,ln .ft he,
entra ice from the Place dn Palais
Royal, seated in inches softly lighted
| by two modest reflectors, are the two
tutelary geniuscs of the house, Molicre
and Corneille, chseled in marble by
the sculptors Andron and Fal-
guiere. Let us pass along the
broad lobby between two rows of mar
BILE busts and walk up the grand
staircase, which is comparatively
recent, having been added by the
architest NJ Chabrol, when the Thea
ter Francois was enlarged in 1854
thanks to land gained by street inn
provements on the side of the Place du
Palais Royal. The public foyer and
the whole south facade of the theateI
date from the same year. This stair
case, with its marble caryatides by
Carrier Belleuse, lis rich iron balu-
strade, its fine architectural lines, de
serves nothing bat praise. Unfortun
ately it leads only TO lobby, and on'
must turn to the left to enter the pub
he foyer or crllsh-room. This foye
looks like n rich and artistic salon
with its profus.on of delicate gliding
its pilastors, its mirrors. it
graceful characterization, and fin,
decorative paintings. Seated com
fortably in an armchair or on sofa
one can contemplate ut ones ease
rare collection of masterpieces .
French sculpture of the eighteenth
century placed around the room. i
the midst of mass Of verdure ant
flowers Voltairc occupies the place o
honor ut one end, not as dramatic
author, not us one of the grand ances
tors of the house, but because his statu
is the finest that Ho don ever made
, At the other end of tho room, on eac
3 side of the monumental chimney
, piece, are busis of Moliere and Cor
nellie, and in front of each of the six
teen futed pilasters that divide Til
=, walls into panels stands on its pedesta
a marble bust of some celebrated au
, thor, by Hpulon, Calliari. Pajou, B ,izo
:, or others--a admirable series, which
continued along the adjoining gallery
at the end of which we admire Clesin
- gers seated statue of George Sand
The foyer and the gallery of busts con
y stitute for the public the museum c
= the Coincide Franchise Bat thcs
. ,, two rooms contain only very sma
v part of the artistic treasures of tn
? house. In every passage, in ever
: room, on every stairway, on ever
r, wall, there are busts, pictures, engraN
u ings, historical souvenirs, which tn
= public does not see. The artist:
IA green-room, the directors cabinet i
., particular are most interesting, bu
;, of course, unless you have friends ;
~ court you can not enter these room
) Happily. as far, mt least, rs the sculp
" ure is concerned, the greater part {
- the masterpiece $ are placed permanen
"a ly within the public view, in the foyt
:! and the passages.
Y AT the present day the riches of IL
> Coincide are SO abundant that for wal
, of room even masterpieces have be lie
. in dark corners, unseen and almost fo
. gotten. AT the Coincide Franchise
the actors greenroom and in the pu
lie foyer, almost all the master portrai
10 lists of the eighteenth century, sculp
ie ors and painters alike, may be Studio
u in Their best work. The sculpture
m particularly admirable. The statu
"a and busts of the museum of the Com
II die may be compared with the antiql
III treasures of the museums Of Italy, al
OF the conclusion will be that the scul
n tors art never achieved its end wi
m more truth and more of the ideal tn;
ne it did by the chiSe, of Hondon, Cailiol
IL Pjou and David dangers. For tn,
~ are really splendid and radiant wi
lie beauty and genius. these busts to whit
20 time has contributed the maste
re touches, giving life to the flesh, al
IT. lccentuatng the expression accordi,
OK TO the seulptor's indications. - Theoao
I'e~ Child, IN Horper's Magazine.
h
n, 1--WE got an elegant idea for
at morrow's paper" said rising YOU
rs journalist Are yol going to ere,
l. iteN was the sarcastic rejoinder of